North Carolina Essential Standards Biology

1 North Carolina Essential Standards Biology The North Carolina Science Essential Standards maintain the respect for local control of each Local Education Authority (LEA) to design the specific curricular and instructional strategies that best deliver the content to their students. Nonetheless, engaging students in inquiry-based instruction is a critical way of developing conceptual understanding of the science content that is vital for success in the twenty-first century. The process of scientific inquiry, experimentation and technological design should not be taught nor tested in isolation of the core concepts drawn from physical science, earth science and life science. A seamless integration of science content, scientific inquiry, experimentation and technological design will reinforce in students the notion that what is known is inextricably tied to how it is known.

2 A well-planned science curriculum provides opportunities for inquiry, experimentation and technological design. Teachers, when teaching science, should provide opportunities for students to engage in hands-on/minds-on activities that are exemplars of scientific inquiry, experimentation and technological design. Science as Inquiry Traditional laboratory experiences provide opportunities to demonstrate how science is constant, historic, probabilistic, and replicable. Although there are no fixed steps that all scientists follow, scientific investigations usually involve collections of relevant evidence, the use of logical reasoning, the application of imagination to devise hypotheses, and explanations to make sense of collected evidence. Student engagement in scientific investigation provides background for understanding the nature of scientific inquiry. In addition, the science process skills necessary for inquiry are acquired through active experience.

3 The process skills support development of reasoning and problem-solving ability and are the core of scientific methodologies. Structure and Functions of Living Organisms Essential Standard Clarifying Objectives Understand the relationship Summarize the structure and function of organelles in between the structures and eukaryotic cells (including the nucleus, plasma membrane, functions of cells and their cell wall, mitochondria, vacuoles, chloroplasts, and organelles. ribosomes) and ways that these organelles interact with each other to perform the function of the cell. Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in terms of their general structures (plasma membrane and genetic material). and degree of complexity. Explain how instructions in DNA lead to cell differentiation and result in cells specialized to perform specific functions in multicellular organisms.

4 Analyze the cell as a living Explain how homeostasis is maintained in the cell and within system. an organism in various environments (including temperature and pH). North Carolina Essential Standards Biology Essential Standard Clarifying Objectives Analyze how cells grow and reproduce in terms of interphase, mitosis and cytokinesis. Explain how specific cell adaptations help cells survive in particular environments (focus on unicellular organisms). Ecosystems Essential Standard Clarifying Objectives Analyze the interdependence of Analyze the flow of energy and cycling of matter (water, living organisms within their carbon, nitrogen and oxygen) through ecosystems relating environments. the significance of each to maintaining the health and sustainability of an ecosystem. Analyze the survival and reproductive success of organisms in terms of behavioral, structural, and reproductive adaptations.

5 Explain various ways organisms interact with each other (including predation, competition, parasitism, mutualism). and with their environments resulting in stability within ecosystems. Explain why ecosystems can be relatively stable over hundreds or thousands of years, even though populations may fluctuate (emphasizing availability of food, availability of shelter, number of predators and disease). Understand the impact of Infer how human activities (including population growth, human activities on the pollution, global warming, burning of fossil fuels, habitat environment (one generation destruction and introduction of nonnative species) may affects the next). impact the environment. Explain how the use, protection and conservation of natural resources by humans impact the environment from one generation to the next. Evolution and Genetics Essential Standard Clarifying Objectives Explain how traits are Explain the double-stranded, complementary nature of DNA.

6 Determined by the structure and as related to its function in the cell. function of DNA. Explain how DNA and RNA code for proteins and determine traits. North Carolina Essential Standards Biology Essential Standard Clarifying Objectives Explain how mutations in DNA that result from interactions with the environment ( radiation and chemicals) or new combinations in existing genes lead to changes in function and phenotype. Understand how the Explain the role of meiosis in sexual reproduction and environment, and/or the genetic variation. interaction of alleles, influences Predict offspring ratios based on a variety of inheritance the expression of genetic traits. patterns (including dominance, co-dominance, incomplete dominance, multiple alleles, and sex-linked traits). Explain how the environment can influence the expression of genetic traits. Understand the application of Interpret how DNA is used for comparison and identification DNA technology.

7 Of organisms. Summarize how transgenic organisms are engineered to benefit society. Evaluate some of the ethical issues surrounding the use of DNA technology (including cloning, genetically modified organisms, stem cell research, and Human Genome Project). Explain the theory of evolution Explain how fossil, biochemical, and anatomical evidence by natural selection as a support the theory of evolution. mechanism for how species Explain how natural selection influences the changes in change over time. species over time. Explain how various disease agents (bacteria, viruses, chemicals) can influence natural selection. Bio Analyze how classification Explain the historical development and changing nature of systems are developed based classification systems. upon speciation. Analyze the classification of organisms according to their evolutionary relationships (including dichotomous keys and phylogenetic trees).

8 Molecular Biology Essential Standard Clarifying Objectives Understand how biological Compare the structures and functions of the major biological molecules are Essential to the molecules (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids). survival of living organisms as related to the survival of living organisms. Summarize the relationship among DNA, proteins and amino acids in carrying out the work of cells and how this is similar in all organisms. Explain how enzymes act as catalysts for biological reactions. North Carolina Essential Standards Biology Essential Standard Clarifying Objectives Bio Analyze the relationships Analyze photosynthesis and cellular respiration in terms of between biochemical processes how energy is stored, released, and transferred within and and energy use in the cell. between these systems. Explain ways that organisms use released energy for maintaining homeostasis (active transport).